Megumi Roberts is the President of Studio Nin CO., LTD and has worked with luxury brands in Japan for more than 20 years. She knows a lot of artists and brands and is very good at PR, which helps her connect with others and work on campaigns. Megumi is like the heart of the company. She finds new business opportunities and shares them with others. What makes her happiest is starting her day by praying and cleaning her home. She vacuums every morning and gets lots of new ideas while doing so.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Megumi Roberts:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
It seems like I’m Japanese, but I’ve got an Indian spirit. I love sharing and dancing like them. I am a very passionate person, and I can go very far for love.
Describe your background, and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
I left my home town when I was 16 and dropped out of high school because I wanted to become an actress and singer. I tried for 10 years to make it happen, and I had to face sexual harassment. I tried to avoid the moment, but I lost a good opportunity. Some of the agents hit me and kicked me in a restaurant, but nobody helped me. I decided to give up on my dream after this horrible experience.
Gladly, I got a job at Elite Models as a foreign model manager when I was 21. I have chosen this opportunity because I wanted to protect young girls, but I realized that there is no such thing as a colorful future.
And I have found a part time job at Virgin Cinemas, and my real career has started from there. The head of Vigin Cinemas saw the way I work, and he hired me as his secretary assistant.
After one year of working, the president gave me a role as PR and Events in the company. I did not know anything about PR or events, so I had to create it from scratch. The first year was a zero communication budget, but gladly, I have achieved media exposure and collaboration with MHD Moet Hennessy Japan. We are the first to sell champagne at a movie theater. Also, I had a great opportunity to work with Richard Branson as his PR and personal assistant in Japan. He is my mentor, and he is a super gentle person for everyone. I have learned a lot from him!
And I worked for MHD and joined Cartier as PR and Events. After 2 years as an employee, I became a freelancer when I was 20. I have woken up to many luxury brands, Chanel, Dior, Vacheron Constantin, etc. LONG STORY!
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
First, I launched my brand, Louis Khan. Louis from France. I have worked for the for the French jewelry brands Cartier and Cartier, made by LOUIS Francois Cartier. Louis is a common name in France. Louis Vuitton, Louis 13, etc.
Khan means king in Hindi, and I am a big fan of SRK! Those two cultures give a lot of energy to Louis Khan. And Studio Nin. I started with two indivisuals. Indian lady Ankita and Italian gentleman Girolamo. Giro is one of the most famous Italians in Japan and we have known each other for over 15 years, We want to do something super fun with beautiful people.
This area is very important to talk about because now 2024! People ended our lives aged 60 to 70 years ago. BUT NOW, 2024. People will survive for more than 100 years. That means 50 years old has just entered a new chapter of life. I launched my brand at 47 and started Studio Nin at 48. We need to have long vision, like until age 90 now. Perfect timing to start a new challenge at age 50.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I am not a successful person, and I don’t think the way is success or not success. That’s angle is not healthy because it feels like it involves somebody’s attention. I’m doing things because my feelings are right.
Which are the major services of the company and how do the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
Athletes’ management, Japanese Sake (alcohol made from rice), producing Movie making, event organizing, luxury brand website creation, collaborating with luxury brands and artists, and my brand, Louis Khan. Lately, I have gotten a business visa in Dubai. We would like to raise a human presence who has a unique talent for the world.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
No box thinking, there is no limit or boundary. My people can work from their own choice. I love to work from the beach and outdoors. Now is 2024! We can work from everywhere. I don’t put myself and my people in a box.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
That shows who we are. We can show you a new way to do business.
Give us your opinion on; whether organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
Absolutely. More than 100%.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
I don’t know about leadership. I don’t think I’m a leader. I just do it and speak about it if things are right for me.
